Magazine Archive 09-2012

Dear readers, The USA against China, China against the USA, the European Union against China, China against the European Union – the chain reaction triggered by the U.S. trade restrictions against Chinese PV imports were foreseeable and are counterproductive. The solar industry is tearing itself apart and solar electricity will certainly not become more competitive […]

Spain: The Spanish government is once again asking operators of solar power plants to pitch in in an effort to cover the public debts of the electricity sector. Opposition has come not only from Spain, but also from Brussels and the USA.

Solar cables: As a result of constantly rising copper prices installers are making increasing use of aluminum cables. Aluminum cables can represent a sensible and economical alternative. However, other rules apply when it comes to assembling and installing aluminum cable. Thus, for example, other clamps are required.

US system prices: The following article by analysts at GTM Research details the factors that contributed to price declines in each US solar PV market segment in Q1 2012.

Bulgaria: At midyear the government in Sofia lowered the feed-in tariffs for PV generated electricity. Attorney Cornelia Draganova, partner at Coeler Legal, gives an overview of the legal principles underlying solar energy production in Bulgaria.

Taiwanese polysilicon: With some Chinese PV players facing tough opposition on a political level in markets like the U.S. and a PV trade complaint also being filed in the EU, some may see it as Taiwan’s time to shine. Optimism is certainly evident as pv magazine speaks to some of the industry’s major upstream players, but also discovers that some industry-wide problems have not passed the island economy by.

Tax investing: The last solar projects developed using the popular federal U.S. Treasury cash grants are finishing up. Can the U.S. solar market keep up its momentum by attracting corporate financiers as those grants fade away? Here is what the signs show so far, and what corporate investors might mean for the market.

Ardour Solar Index: Selling pressure resumes as the industry remains in flux. Trade war and mixed 2Q12 results drive down the index.

Taiwanese polysilicon: With some Chinese PV players facing tough opposition on a political level in markets like the U.S. and a PV trade complaint also being filed in the EU, some may see it as Taiwan’s time to shine. Optimism is certainly evident as pv magazine speaks to some of the industry’s major upstream players, but also discovers that some industry-wide problems have not passed the island economy by.